FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elissa Ruffino, 202-939-3106, elissa@niaf.org

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(WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 8, 2015)  Mario J. Gabelli, founder, chairman and CEO of GAMCO Investors Inc., a New York Stock Exchange listed company, will be honored at the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) 40^th Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.  Gabelli will receive the NIAF 40^th Anniversary Award for Leadership and Service on October 17, 2015, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park. The black-tie event begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception followed by dinner and an awards ceremony.

Honorees joining Gabelli include Amato L. Berardi, founder of Berardi & Associates Inc., and former member of the Italian Parliament; Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D., founder and director of Integra LifeSciences; Connie Francis, Italian American music legend; Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and chairman of Ferrari S.p.A.; Franco Nuschese, president of Georgetown Entertainment Group LLC; Steve Perillo, president and owner of Perillo Tours; Alfred M. Rotondaro, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former NIAF executive director; and Josephine J. (Gargiulo) Templeton, M.D., trustee of the John Templeton Foundation.

Gabelli founded GAMCO Investors Inc. in 1977. It is a diversified financial services corporation providing investment advice through its mutual funds, alternative investments, and institutional and private wealth management. Gabelli also serves as CEO of LICT Corporation, which owns 15 independent telephone companies. In 2011, he was named Money Manager of the Year by Institutional Investor. He is also a member of Barron’s All-Star Century Team.

A trustee of the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States, which encourages scientific and technological advancement through scholarships and fellowships to graduate students and professors at Churchill College in Cambridge, England, Gabelli also supports programs for education, health and community affairs at E.L. Wiegand Foundation in Reno, Nev.

Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University’s College of Business Administration and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He serves on the Boards of Boston College, Roger Williams University, Columbia University Graduate School of Business, the American-Italian Cancer Foundation, and the Foundation for Italian Art & Culture.

Besides NIAF’s distinguished honorees, celebrities and entertainment take center stage during NIAF Gala Weekend to celebrate a milestone in its history. As part of NIAF’s lineup of celebrities, actors Danny Aiello, Chazz Palminteri and Annabella Sciorra; singer and songwriter Giada Valenti; performer Tom Sinatra; Twelve-time MLB All-Star Mike Piazza; The Washington Chorus; The Sicilian Tenors, Aaron Caruso, Elio Scaccio and Sam Vitale, will join Il Volo’s Piero Barone, Ignazio Boscetto and Gianluca Ginoble, as part of the weekend performances.

NIAF Board Member and Emmy Award-winning Fox News Anchor and Global Markets Editor Maria Bartiromo and SNL legend, NIAF Celebrity Ambassador, actor, entertainer and radio host Joe Piscopo will co-host one of the most popular galas in our nation’s capital. To open the weekend festivities on Friday evening, October 16, Piscopo and celebrity guests will celebrate Frank Sinatra’s 100^th birthday and honor the legacy of Sinatra with the crooner’s celebrated melodies from his songbook.

NIAF’s 40^th Anniversary Weekend is presented by Alitalia, the airline that brings the best of Italy to the world. Tickets to Saturday’s Gala begin at $400 per person. Young professional tickets cost $200 per person available only by phone. Tickets to Friday evening’s celebration of Frank Sinatra’s 100^th birthday cost $200 per person. Proceeds benefit NIAF’s educational programs. For tickets or sponsor information, contact Jerry Jones at 202-387-0600 or jerry@niaf.org, or register online at https://www.niaf.org/40.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent. Visit www.niaf.org.